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Advanced course · 2026–27 framework

Marlbridge guide to AP® Computer Science Principles

The official unit roadmap for AP® Computer Science Principles with exam weightings, the May 2027 exam format, and every Marlbridge study guide, practice set and checklist written for it so far.

May 2027 exam at a glance

Exam date: Fri, 14 May 2027. Through-course and end-of-course: the Create performance task (program code, video and Personalized Project Reference) is completed in class and submitted in the AP Digital Portfolio by 30 April 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET; the end-of-course exam is fully digital in the Bluebook app.

AP® Computer Science Principles exam sections, May 2027
SectionQuestionsTimeWeight
Section I: Multiple choice
  • 57 single-select questions
  • 5 single-select questions on a reading passage about a computing innovation
  • 8 multiple-select questions (select 2 answers)
  • 4 answer options; the Exam Reference Sheet is provided
 70120 minutes70%
Section II: Create performance task
  • Program code, video and Personalized Project Reference submitted by 30 April 2027
  • 2 written-response questions (4 prompts: 1, 2(a), 2(b), 2(c)) about the student’s own program, answered with the Personalized Project Reference
 260 minutes on exam day, after at least 9 hours of in-class work on the task30%

Calculator: No calculator is allowed. The Exam Reference Sheet (block-based and text-based programming constructs) is provided.

Framework clarifications: The clarifications document (implemented August 2025) is editorial (front matter only), and none are forthcoming. No change to big ideas, topics or the exam is listed. The CED in use is the Fall 2023 edition.

Before you start: A first-year high-school algebra course with a strong foundation in linear functions, composition of functions and problem solving, and the ability to use a Cartesian (x, y) coordinate system, per the CED. No prior computer science experience is required, and the course has no set programming language.

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Unit roadmap

Units and topics exactly as numbered in the 2026–27 Course and Exam Description (Units 1–5 (the CED's five big ideas: CRD, DAT, AAP, CSN and IOC; topic numbers are the CED's own)). Weightings are the official multiple-choice ranges. Marlbridge has written resources for 35 of 35 topics so far; the rest are planned and marked as such.

AP® Computer Science Principles flashcards: 210 cards, one set per unit, to test yourself on every topic.

  1. Unit 1: Creative Development (CRD) 10–13% of multiple choice · 4 topics
  2. Unit 2: Data (DAT) 17–22% of multiple choice · 4 topics
  3. Unit 3: Algorithms and Programming (AAP) 30–35% of multiple choice · 18 topics
  4. Unit 4: Computer Systems and Networks (CSN) 11–15% of multiple choice · 3 topics
  5. Unit 5: Impact of Computing (IOC) 21–26% of multiple choice · 6 topics

Exam skills

Guides that apply across every unit: what each task verb asks you to do, and how to set out answers so every step of your reasoning is visible.

Computational thinking practices

1. Computational Solution Design
Design and evaluate computational solutions for a purpose. (18–25% of multiple choice.)
2. Algorithms and Program Development
Develop and implement algorithms. (20–28% of multiple choice.)
3. Abstraction in Program Development
Develop programs that incorporate abstractions. (7–12% of multiple choice.)
4. Code Analysis
Evaluate and test algorithms and programs. (12–19% of multiple choice.)
5. Computing Innovations
Investigate computing innovations. (28–33% of multiple choice.)
6. Responsible Computing
Contribute to an inclusive, safe, collaborative, and ethical computing culture. (Not assessed in multiple choice.)

Questions

What is on the AP® Computer Science Principles exam in May 2027?

Multiple choice: 70 questions in 120 minutes (70% of the score). Create performance task: 2 questions in 60 minutes on exam day, after at least 9 hours of in-class work on the task (30%). The exam is on Fri, 14 May 2027.

How many units does AP® Computer Science Principles have?

5 units, numbered Units 1–5 (the CED's five big ideas: CRD, DAT, AAP, CSN and IOC; topic numbers are the CED's own), split into 35 topics in the 2026–27 framework.

Did anything change for 2026–27?

The clarifications document (implemented August 2025) is editorial (front matter only), and none are forthcoming. No change to big ideas, topics or the exam is listed. The CED in use is the Fall 2023 edition.

What should I know before starting?

A first-year high-school algebra course with a strong foundation in linear functions, composition of functions and problem solving, and the ability to use a Cartesian (x, y) coordinate system, per the CED. No prior computer science experience is required, and the course has no set programming language.

Which calculator can I use?

No calculator is allowed. The Exam Reference Sheet (block-based and text-based programming constructs) is provided.

Official sources

Everything on this page about the course structure and exam was checked against these College Board documents on 08/11/2026. Always check them for later changes.

AP® and Advanced Placement® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this website. Marlbridge is an independent tuition provider. It is not an authorized AP course provider, an AP school or an exam centre, and these resources are not official College Board materials. Reading them or doing simulations does not meet the laboratory requirement of an AP science course.